Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The victim, Timoteo Pena, was the owner of “Sinaloa Meat and Grocery Market” located in the 5600 block of San Pedro Street. On July 24, 1990, Pena was working at the market with his young daughter, when he was shot and killed during an apparent robbery. During the commission of the crime, Pena armed himself with his own handgun and exchanged gunshots with his assailant. After hearing multiple gunshots, witnesses in the neighborhood saw the suspect fleeing the area in a small, green, compact vehicle. Pena was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that same evening, Marcus Perkins’s identity and possible involvement was brought to the detectives’ attention when Perkins was admitted into Daniel Freeman Hospital with a gunshot wound. Perkins denied being responsible for the murder of Timoteo Pena.

However, circumstantial evidence suggested otherwise. Unfortunately, detectives were unable to uncover any additional witnesses or physical evidence to support an arrest and/or criminal filing and Pena’s murder went unsolved for over 23 years.

In 2011, detectives from Robbery-Homicide Division reviewed the Pena case and discovered physical evidence remained in police custody. This evidence, which was examined for the presence of DNA, forensically linked Marcus Perkins to the Pena crime scene.

After a lengthy investigation into Marcus Perkins’s background, detectives discovered that in 1990 and then again in 1994, Perkins was arrested for committing similar-type robberies. Pursuant to his 1994 arrest, Perkins was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in state prison. Perkins was released from custody during 2013 after serving a majority of this lengthy prison sentence.

For further information, please contact Detectives Tim Marcia, or Mitzi Roberts, at Robbery-Homicide Division, 213-486-6890. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”